Local expert speaks about Trump's Supreme Court pick

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Gustavo Carr
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10 July, 2018, 02:12

After a weekend deliberating with aides and calling allies for advice, he tweeted, "I have long heard that the most important decision a U.S. President can make is the selection of a Supreme Court Justice - Will be announced tonight at 9:00 P.M". This is President Trump speaking to reporters Sunday.

The White House guest list for the Monday night announcement includes Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and another committee member, John Kennedy, R-La. You can watch it LIVE on Fox8.com and FOX 8 News.

"It's an historic decision". He said Sunday that he hoped to have made a decision by noon Monday.

On average, for Supreme Court nominees who have received hearings, the hearing occurred 39 days after the nomination was formally submitted, according to the Congressional Research Service.

President Donald Trump with first lady Melania Trump, background right, board Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport, in Morristown, N.J., Sunday, July 8, 2018, en route to Washington from Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.

The White House reassigned key communications staff last week to focus exclusively on the looming Supreme Court fight.

He did not reveal his short list. but he is believed to be considering three men and one woman, all of whom have strong conservative credentials. But there's one qualification that could prove a problem for the judge: his ties to the Bush family have reportedly raised Trump's suspicions.

The Republican president, with an opportunity to further put his stamp on the court with the second appointee of his 18 months in office, is expected to choose among four judges with strong conservative credentials: Thomas Hardiman, Brett Kavanaugh, Raymond Kethledge and Amy Coney Barrett. Hardiman, who drove a cab as he worked his way through college, was in the running for the seat that eventually went to Gorsuch.

Kavanaugh's time in Bush administrations, for example, could count against him with a President who is suspicious of the political establishment.

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Support for nomination: Barrett also served as a law clerk to the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who is beloved by conservatives.

Barrett, confirmed to the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on October 31, has faced opposition by abortion rights groups because she has called Roe v. Wade an erroneous decision. Dianne Feinstein said that religious "dogma" lived loudly in her. The New York Times reports she says she would like to see the scope of abortion rights changed.

Barrett is considered the favorite of social conservatives, including pro-life activists.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said opponents were using "40-year-old scare tactics" over abortion and other issues but they "will not stop us from doing the right thing".

If Collins and Murkowski vote "no" and Democrats all vote "no", the nomination would be blocked. The White House said Monday that former Sen. "This is a nightmare for red-state Democrats, to oppose a highly qualified nominee and all four of these people are highly qualified", he added. I'm open to voting no.

Later in the week, the president also suggested that of the four reported shortlisted candidates, he had preferences, telling reporters: "I think I have it down to four people".

Trump is said to have apparently lost interest in Kethledge.

It is not exaggeration to say that the prospect of tipping the balance of the Supreme Court was the reason why evangelical conservative voters, who had plenty of reason to worry about Trump's character, made a decision to stick with him during the 2016 election campaign. Gorsuch restored the court's conservative majority.